STRAY NOTES, PREHISTORIC, SAXON, AND NORMAN. 237 



A second son of Theodoric was Robert, concerning whom we 

 learn that he held a small portion of land in Wattele for id. That 

 he paid 5d. to the Firmarius, but for what purpose the Firmarius 

 John de Barnes reported he did not know. It is further recorded 

 of him that he left a widow, Ediva or Edith by name, who held half 

 an acre for various services. She also held two curtilages, as well as 

 the lands of Saverich and Ailward, for both of which latter she paid 

 havedsot — a payment which gave her the right to wood and water in 

 the demesne, and leave to quit the Manor whenever she desired for 

 business or other purposes without obtaining the special licence 

 otherwise required from the Lord. 



The third son of Theodoric was Gilbert the Palmer. He is 

 mentioned as the holder of various small portions of land, but is 

 only once spoken of as the palmer, but this one entry is sufficient to 

 prove a connection between Navestock and the Holy Land. In 

 connection with Ralph le Bunde he held half an acre of land by 

 the rent of two ploughshares and an auk or goose. This is the 

 only instance in the Manor of such a payment as the auca. The 

 tracing of its origin might prove interesting. 



Probably Richard Ruffus was the next and first sole Firmarius. 

 At any rate, certain lands in Navestock are referred to as being let 

 by him. He was a Canon of S. Paul's and Prebendary of Twyford, 

 and afterwards Archdeacon of Essex, and it may be noted that one 

 of the S. Paul's tenants at Belchamp in 1222 was Matilda, rehct of 

 Richard Ruffus. This should be remembered when we speak a 

 little later concerning a married clergy. 



Archdeacon Hale, curiously enough, in one place says : " New- 

 court was in error in assigning the name of Ruffus to the Archdeacon, 

 and that Richard Ruffus is to be distinguished from Richard the 

 Archdeacon, but in another place he deliberately refers to Richard 

 Ruffus as Archdeacon. 



Richard Ruffus (later on Archdeacon) may therefore be assumed 

 to be the very person who let the land at Navestock as before 

 asserted, and the first Sole Firmarius under whom the two Manors 

 of N. Edwini and N. Aldwini were merged into the Manor of Nave- 

 stock, but whether or not he was the husband of Matilda I am not 

 prepared to say. 



John de Marigni was Firmarius in 1 181. His name appears as 

 such in the Inquisition of Ralph de Deceto. According to Bracton's 

 Notes he was the nephew of Hugh the Dean, being the son of 



